Nuclear power was considered

Nuclear power is one of the alternatives to Labrador hydro that the Maritime Link’s developer considered, the provincial regulator was told Monday.

NSP Maritime Link Inc. said in its cable project application to the provincial Utility and Review Board that nuclear wasn’t feasible.

“It can be concluded from the report that the nuclear energy option is not viable for Nova Scotia at this time,” the Emera subsidiary said in its filing.

Emera hired Barra Strategies Inc. to study the option of nuclear generation, resulting in a 42-page report that was included with the application.

The study, which was completed in November, looked at various types of nuclear technology used in Canada and around the world.

NSP Maritime Link Inc. said a typical 1,100- to 1,600-megawatt nuclear power plant would cost $12 billion to $18 billion, including a backup system needed in case of a sudden reactor outage.

Chris Huskilson, Emera’s president and chief executive, said last week the company commissioned the study because a look

at the options should include nuclear.

“It’s not practical just from a plain cost-of-production perspective,” he told The Chronicle Herald’s editorial board.

The option may also raise legal issues, since the province has a law that prohibits Nova Scotia Power from having nuclear generation.

The Barra Strategies report said nuclear may be viable with a smaller-scale reactor in the 190-megawatt range, such as the type used on naval ships. But such technology isn’t commercially licenced in Canada, the report concluded.